State v. Darling

77 Vt. 67 | Vt. | 1904

Stanford, J.

The respondent was informed against for selling intoxicating liquor without a license. There were two counts, relating to- different occasions, and there was evidence in support of each count. When the evidence was all in the respondent moved that the State be required to elect which of the counts it would stand upon and to enter a nol. pros, as to the other. The motion was overruled and an exception was taken. The Court submitted to the jury whether the respondent was guilty on either or both of the counts; to which the respondent excepted. The jury having returned a verdict of “guilty on both counts,” judgment was entered thereon and sentence imposed that the respondent pay a fine of $600 and costs. “To- entering said judgment and imposing said fine” the respondent excepted.

Under these three exceptions the question is now presented, whether the respondent could be legally tried, convicted and sentenced upon the two counts, charging two separate and distinct offences of the same kind and subject to the same punishment. It is admitted that such counts-may properly be joined and that no advantage can be taken thereof by demurrer or motion to quash. State v. Smalley, 50 Vt. 736; State v. Lockwood, 58 Vt. 378, 3 Atl. 539. Whether the State should be put to its election, and if so at what stage of the trial, are matters for the discretion of the trial court. If the accused will be confounded in his defence or deprived of the protection of legal rules by requiring him to answer both charges before the same jury, the court will not compel it. But the offences may be so- related to each other that justice will seem to demand a joint trial, as in Pointer v. U. S., 151 U. S. 396, 38 L. Ed. 208, where two murders were committed by the respondent at the same place, with the same instrument at almost the same time, and in substantially the same circumstances. In that case a verdict of guilty was returned under two counts alleging the different murders, and a death sentence sustained. Although the Act of Congress — R. S. 1024 — expressly permitted the joinder of certain offences, the Court said that the statute did not solve the question but left the Court to determine whether in a given case the joinder was consistent with the settled principles of criminal law, and held that in the case before it the joinder was proper. The case is full authority upon the discretion of the trial court as to whether and when the prosecution should be required to elect. Although it does not appear in the present case that the offences were so related as to throw light upon each other, neither does it appear that there was anything to embarrass the respondent in defending against both before the same jury, and there is no reason to question the soundness of the exercise of discretion. There was clearly no error in refusing to require the State to elect, nor in submitting the question of guilt under both counts, nor in rendering judgment and imposing sentence upon the verdict provided the sentence itself was legal. The principal question touching the validity of the sentence is based upon the theory that the fine exceeded the maximum which might be imposed for a single offence, so that there were really cumulative sentences. This assumption is unsupported by the record. Only one judgment and only one sentence was rendered or imposed and the amount of the fine was not greater than mig'ht be imposed for one offence. The authority of the court being tO' impose a fine of not less than three hundred dollars, with no limit upwards, is like the common law authority of the English courts in misdemeanors, unlimited as to the amount of the fine, except for the minimum requirement. The case, then, is the familiar one of a conviction- of several offences of the same grade, punishable alike, and of the imposition of a sentence within the authority of the court to impose for a single one of those offences. Even the authorities cited by the respondent recognize the perfect regularity of such a course. Tweed’s case itself, People v. Liscomb, 60 N. Y. 559, 19 Am. Rep. 211, discredited though it is by courts and text writers, furnishes in its long review of authorities abundant proof of the soundness of this statement, and no ¡support for the contention of the respondent. We are not to be understood as deciding that cumulative sentences may not be imposed in a case like this but only as pointing out that the question is not presented by the record.

The jury was properly instructed to treat each count as a separate accusation.

There was no error in omitting to charge that all the evidence in the case should be considered under each count. It was only the evidence applicable to the count, that was to be considered in determining the respondent’s guilt thereunder. If there was evidence applicable to both counts it was to be considered under each. Such was the substance of the charge as we read and understand it, although respondent’s counsel seems to regard it otherwise.

There was evidence tending- to show a joint sale to the parties named in the information. The motion to set aside the verdict was, therefore, properly denied.

The penalty prescribed in Acts of 1902, No. 90, Sec. 68, relates to all who sell, etc., without a license, whether in license towns or elsewhere. The argument that it relates only to violations of the act in towns that have voted license, and that violations of the act in other towns are punishable only under Sec. 81, is colorable but not convincing.

We think also that each separate sale or furnishing constitutes an offence and incurs the penalty. But as we have already remarked the fine imposed was not greater than might have been imposed for one offence, and there' was but one judgment and one sentence.

Judgment that there is no error in the proceedings of the County Court, and that the respondent take nothing by Ms exceptions. Let a mittimms issue and execution be done.